Youth Artist Competition

Congratulations to Shuya Zheng, winner of this years Youth Artist Competition!

Shuya will be performing Rachmaninoff's piano Concerto no. 1 in F-sharp minor with the DCO on March 3rd. Mark your calendars!

Congratulations to Shuya Zheng, the winner of the Dexter Community Orchestra Youth Artist Competition! Shuya is a senior from Northville, MI, and will be performing the first movement of Rachmaninoff's piano Concerto no. 1 in F-sharp minor. Shuya comes from a musical family, who were instrumental throughout his musical journey, which he began at age 5. 

Shuya is inspired by a variety of musicians including his former piano teacher, Mi-Eun Kim. If Shuya could collaborate with any musician, he would play alongside pianist Yuja Wang because her playing is so precise and quick and she's very charismatic on the stage. One piece of musical advice that helps guide Shuya's playing is that "piano is like acting -- it doesn't matter how well you play, if you don't express in your playing, the audience won't understand the music." 

Outside of music, Shuya enjoys baking, taking care of his succulent garden, and singing with the Northville High School Choir. In the future, Shuya hopes to accomplish his main goal in life: work hard now so that I can eat good food later.  We look forward to welcoming Shuya to DCO for our upcoming concert, and having our community join us on March 3rd!

Each year, the Dexter Community Orchestra hosts a Youth Orchestra Competition with the goal of supporting and promoting talented young musicians in our community. By recognizing these musicians, the DCO strives to offer a platform where talented young individuals can showcase their talents as they develop into the next generation of performers. The winner has the opportunity to perform a concerto with a full orchestra, and will be recognized with a prize amount of $500. 

The competition is open to all piano, band, orchestra, and vocal students in grades 6 through 12 who reside in or attend school in any of the following Michigan counties: Washtenaw, Oakland, Wayne, Monroe, Lenawee, Jackson, Livingston, and Ingham. Past winners are ineligible. 

Previous winners include:

  • 2023 Nathan Leung, saxophone

  • 2022 Ella Saputra, violin

  • 2020 Derek Zhu, piano

  • 2019 Elizabeth Li, flute

  • 2018 Yoav Hayut, violin

  • 2017 Alon Hayut, cello

  • 2016 Charles Berofsky, piano

  • 2015 Bum NamKoong, Bb clarinet

  • 2014 Paddy Harvey, cello and Forrest Flesher, piano

  • 2013 Emma Sandberg, violin

  • 2012 Stuart Carlson, violin and Giancarlo Latta, violin

  • 2011 Davis West, violin

  • 2010 Jacob Joyce, violin

  • 2009 Nathaniel Pierce, cello

  • 2008 J. Jesse Bennett, piano

  • 2007 Daniel Park, clarinet

  • 2006 Maria Xiang, horn and Sarah Schroeder, cello

For questions about the Youth Artist Competition, please contact dcoyouthartist@gmail.com.